Natural history and surgical treatment of brown tumor lesions at various sites in refractory primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVE: Nowadays, the occurrence of brown tumor lesions or osteitis fibrosa cystica caused by long-lasting primary hyperparathyroidism are very rare, since measuring serum calcium became available routinely in the mid-1970s. It is a tumor-like lesion that may affect the entire skeleton, often presenting with diffuse focal bone pain or by pathological fracture.
METHODS: We describe our experience of brown tumor lesions at different skeletal sites that were treated at our trauma centre within the last two years. This included surgical therapy for the indications (i) pain at the pelvis, (ii) increased risk for pathological fracture at the tibia and (iii) acute radicular symptoms at the lumbar spine. The literature was reviewed for the current understanding of the pathophysiology as well as therapy of brown tumor lesions in primary hyperparathyroidism.
RESULTS: Curettage of a left-sided iliac crest brown tumor terminated focal pain. A less invasive stabilisation system and bone cement decreased both patient pain and the fracture risk of brown tumor lesion sites of the shinbone; and internal fixator including laminectomy at the lumbar spine ended radicular symptoms.
CONCLUSION: Patients with refractory primary hyperparathyroidism should be monitored closely by endocrinologists and the patient's serum calcium level should be adjusted as far as possible. Radiography is required only if focal bone pain or pathological fractures or radicular symptoms occur. Surgery should be considered if large bone defects with spontaneous fracture risk or increasing pain are present. Tumor curettage, Palacos plombage and less invasive stabilisation systems have proved to be acceptable surgical options.